Some of the most expensive baseball cards ever sold fetch prices in the hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars. These rare and historic cards are considered prized possessions and important pieces of collectible memorabilia. While not every baseball card has enormous value, there are a select few that stand apart as being truly iconic and therefore commanding astronomical prices.
One of the most expensive baseball cards ever sold is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card. Produced between 1909-1911 as part of the American Tobacco Company’s famous T206 series, it is widely considered the most coveted and valuable trading card in the world. Only around 60 copies of the Honus Wagner card are known to exist today in various conditions. What makes this card so rare is that Wagner had a dispute with the American Tobacco Company and requested his likeness be removed from the series, leaving only a small number of cards featuring him in circulation. In 2021, a PSA NM-MT 8 example of the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card sold at auction for a record $6.6 million, making it the most valuable baseball or sports card ever sold. Other examples have fetched prices over $3 million as well.
Another tremendously expensive card is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card. Considered the most iconic post-war baseball card, it pictures the then 20-year old star center fielder for the New York Yankees in his early career. The condition and grade of a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle dramatically impacts its value. A PSA Gem Mint 10 graded example of the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card sold at auction in 2021 for an astounding $5.2 million, making it one of the priciest baseball cards ever. Other high-grade PSA 9 or BVG 9.5 examples have sold for well over $1 million also. In worn lower grades, 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle cards can still fetch five figure sums.
The 1923 “EDMUND” Babe Ruth Sports Cabinet card is also extremely valuable. Often called the “Holy Grail” of Babe Ruth cards, it was produced as part of a special series of larger cabinet cards produced between 1911-1914. Only about 50 are known to exist today. What makes this card ultra-rare is that unlike most other 1923 Babe Ruth Sporting Life publisher issues that just say “BABE RUTH” across the front, this particular card features the handwritten name “EDMUND” on the front, theorized to be Ruth’s first name. In 2016, a PSA NM-MT 8 graded example achieved a record $5.2 million at public auction. Its tremendous rarity and association directly with Babe Ruth himself is why this card is so prized.
Another super valuable vintage card is the 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig card. Considered the rarest card from the landmark 1933 Goudey set, only four PSA graded examples are known. What makes it so scarce is believed to be an extremely limited print run. A PSA NM-MT 8 grade example sold for $487,500 back in 2012. Less than gem copies in lower PSA grades still sell for six figure sums due to the card’s amazing rarity within the hobby. Any 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig card in any grade is an important collectible given how few are known to exist overall.
The 1955 Bowman Sandy Koufax rookie card also holds immense value, routinely selling for over $100,000. Featuring a very young Koufax during his initial season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, it is regarded as one of the key rookie cards from the 1950s period and one of the most significant Dodgers cards ever issued. High grades of PSA 8 to 10 can demand prices anywhere from $125,000 to over $300,000 due strong demand for this iconic rookie card of one of baseball’s all-time great pitchers. Even worn lower graded copies still fetch impressive five figure sums.
Some other extremely expensive cards worth over $100,000 include the 1909 Edd Roush T206 card, 1975 Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card, 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card, Topps 1965 rookie cards of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, 1903 Turkey Red Cabinets “White Border” Honus Wagner card, and 1911 T207 Old Mill Tommy Leach card. Those mentioned above such as the T206 Wagner, 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, and 1923 “EDMUND” Babe Ruth card stand above the rest as true seven and eight figure cards, all deserving the title of being among the most prized, significant, and historically valuable baseball cards ever. Whether you have one of these ultra-rare gems or not, they remain legend in the hobby.
